NO DOUBT: Rachel Daly named NWSL player of the week

Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly was voted the National Women’s Soccer League player of the week by the NWSL Media Association.

Daly, 26, helped lead the Dash to their second and third wins of the season beginning Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Reign FC and then a 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit Sunday. The former St. John’s University standout scored her third and fourth goals of the year and first at home in the win over the Spirit.

The Harrogate, England native opened the scoring for Houston seconds into first-half stoppage time as Mana Shim found Nichelle Prince up the left wing where she controlled the ball and played a low cross for a cutting Daly to power home past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe. (Watch highlights)

The England international sealed the win when she completed first professional brace on a breakaway in the 78th minute. Capitalizing on turnover in the midfield, Linda Motlhalo slipped a pass in behind for Thembi Kgatlana where she beat the goalkeeper with a pass into the path of Daly, who dribbled the ball into the open net.

On Wednesday against Seattle, she served a free kick into the box that was headed by Kristie Mewis into the defender but the ball would fall for her to fire a left-footed shot to the near post beating Reign FC goalkeeper Michelle Betos with in the 68th minute. (Watch highlights)

It is the second time Daly has been honored as the NWSL Player of the Week and the ninth time a member of Dash has won the award. She previously earned the accolade in Week 1 of the 2016 season.

Houston will return to action Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET against the North Carolina Courage at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The NWSL player of the week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.

About The Author

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered eight World Cups, seven Olympics and all 21 MLS Cups. He writes about New York City FC, New York Cosmos and the U.S. national team for Newsday and pens a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has two more in the works, including one about the Rochester Lancers.